A Geographic Study on the Acceptance of the Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Provincial Cities of Japan

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  • 末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会受容の地域的差異に関する研究—山形・富山地域における事例を中心に—
  • 末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会受容の地域的差異に関する研究--山形・富山地域における事例を中心に
  • マツジツ セイト イエス キリスト キョウカイ ジュヨウ ノ チイキテキ サイ ニ カンスル ケンキュウ ヤマガタ トヤマ チイキ ニ オケル ジレイ オ チュウシン ニ

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show that there are regional differences in the religious acceptance of the Christian mission in the provincial cities of Japan, and that those differences are mainly based on regional differences in the folk religion.<br> This research confirms that the mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is comparatively difficult in Jodo sect regions where there are many temples of the Jodoshin sect or the Jodo sect, in Yamagata and Toyama Prefectures. But numerous church members are apt to be devout Christians. In the regions where many temples of the Soto sect and other sects are located in close proximity, the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is comparatively easy. But numerous church members are apt to be out of the church. Takemura (1996) reported the same tendency in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures.<br> There are various reasons for conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to my questionnaire, a number of church members' reason for converting was that they respected the missionaries and understood the Gospel taught by them. In cases that they were guided by the Holy Ghost (religious experience), the location or region they live in seems to make a difference. In Yamagata Prefecture, a number of church members stated that they were led by the Holy Ghost. But in Toyama Prefecture, few gave that reason. In Jodo sect regions, like Toyama Prefecture, a number of church members stated that the main reason for conversion to this church was that they understood the creed. Those tendencies seem to be based on regional differences in the folk religion.<br> As regards reasons why converts came to church in the first place, the proselytizing of missionaries and English conversation lessons were the main ones until the 1980s. But in the 1990s, when the number of church members increased, the reason seems to be that as the church members' proselytizing efforts increased, along with self-referrals a person visits a church of his or her own accord. Cases that people visit a church for events other than English conversation lessons also increased.. Recently the proselytizing efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the provincial cities in Japan have changed and many new methods of proselytizing have been adopted, which are being widely accepted.

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